Directions: ~ saute onions and garlic in olive oil in cast iron skillet
~ add eggplants, herbs, and keep adding water as the eggplant dries out
~ keep cooking until eggplant is dark and soft to the touch
~ brush pizza crust with olive oil
~ add sauce, eggplant mix, then cheese on top of pizza crust
~ bake until cheese is melted.

I made this once before when I had extra eggplant after making eggplant parm, AJ LOVED IT!!!!

Yesterday afternoon I made big batch of eggplant pizza. I asked hubby to heat up a few pieces at a specific time so when I got home from karate with AJ, they would be ready. Sadly he heated up all ten of them, so there would be no leftovers. We can’t reheat them again, that is not safe. In addition, most of the slices were badly burnt or dried out.

Has this ever happened to you? You make a great meal, then someone messes it up and you just want to cry.

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

All recipes and meals are made with organic, real food and/or NON-GMO products.

Fresh Baked Cupcakes…out of the freezer????

I’ve made fresh baked goods before, but then when you freeze and reheat it just doesn’t taste the same. So now, freezing the mixture raw, you can get that fresh baked taste every time…and only bake what you need.

Cupcakes:

Directions:~ mix ingredients as directed
~ poor into cupcake wrappers placed in cupcake pans
~ flash freeze – freeze in cupcake tin for a few hours so it will be solid
~ store in baggies
~ When ready to bake, place the desired amount in cupcake pan then bake for correct amount of time

I chose to make mini cupcakes, but you can do this with average sized cupcakes and muffins. I just tried it with brownies. Yes, I make brownie cupcakes and it was perfection.

Add bananas, blueberries, strawberries, chocolate chips, or raisins. What do you like to add to your brownies or cupcakes?

AJ loved picking out the cupcakes he wanted and put them in the pan.

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

Tasty Chicken with Rice and Veggies

Tasty Chicken Ingredients:

Directions:~ rub the seasoning all over the chicken, including under the skin – this makes the chicken less greasy and keeps the seasoning stuck to the chicken~ oil the cast iron skillet, place the chicken in it, then cover
~ bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or longer~ remove the chicken and slice into strips and serve

PAIR WITH brown rice and veggies… I chose green beans, leeks, peppers, and onions…so it was super tasty.

AJ loved it, despite the “whatever” face. He said “This is the best chicken he ever had. It’s really tasty.” Which is where I got the phrase-tasty chicken.

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

What do you like to add to your pasta salad?

Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

If you and your family are making a pointed effort to eat only organic foods, it’s great to have some foundational items to always keep on hand. With some organic diet staples, you can make it through snack times and rushed meals without sacrificing the healthy factor. Here are ten organic must-haves and why they should always be on your grocery list.

Peanut Butter

Organic peanut butter is a snack-time lifesaver. It’s sandwich-friendly for quick kids’ lunches, great for smearing on celery or banana for a healthy snack, and even a perfect pick-me-up on its own. It’s packed with protein, heart-healthy fats, fiber, and potassium. However, even though peanut butter contains good fat, it never hurts to limit your servings so as not to surpass your daily recommended intake on peanut butter alone.

Kale

Kale is a no-brainer. This green of the decade is a nutrient-dense superfood packed with practically all the vitamins in the alphabet, plus manganese, calcium, copper, magnesium, and pretty much the full range of the vitamin Bs. With all that good stuff, the health benefits are too many to count. Besides all of the great stuff it contains, greens a great diet staple because they’re so versatile. You can eat kale in fruity salad, such as with grapes or apples, or in a savory salad–or, best of all, in a yummy green fruit smoothie you can take on the go.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a little something extra that you can add to smoothies, oatmeal, homemade bread, salad, and even desserts. They’re so small that you may barely notice them even though the health benefits are through the roof. Chia seeds are similar to flaxseed in that they are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, and a host of essential vitamins and minerals. They may be tiny, but they sure are powerful.

Fresh Lemons

Lemon juice is an extremely useful commodity, especially if your family has cut down on sugar and most fruit juices. Compared to other fruits, the juice contains much less sugar and therefore much less harmful fructose. When you want to add a tart and fruity spin to your morning juice, lemon is a wise and exciting choice. It’s also a flavor that works with both savory and sweet dishes, from cake to salad dressing. Don’t forget about the detoxifying and hydrating benefits of drinking warm water with lemon first thing in the morning.

Dried Veggie Chips

Sometimes that crunchy snacktime craving can’t be defeated–so it has to be outwitted. Crispy dried veggies are the perfect substitute for goldfish and potato chips because they satisfy the need for a salty, crunchy snack, but supply plenty of nutrients in the meantime. Make sure to hunt for a kind without added sugar, even if the addition is natural cane sugar. Vegetables are tasty on their own without fructose contribution, thank you very much.

Like chia seeds, quinoa is a versatile and protein and fiber-packed grain. It also gives you a healthy dose of iron without the red meat overload. Throw in calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, Vitamin E, and magnesium and you have a true superfood. Eat it for breakfast with peanut butter and apples, mix it with veggies for a salad, and even use it as the base of your entree.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are rich in fiber, protein, manganese, and iron. Homemade hummus is a delicious snack time treat, but don’t forget about the other delicious ways to incorporate chickpeas into your diet. You can roast spicy chickpeas for an appetizer or make a salad with edamame and lemon. Throw them in pasta, chicken wraps, stir fry, curry, and well, pretty much anything you want!

Plain Greek Yogurt

Plain Greek yogurt contains probiotics that are great for your digestive system. It also contains protein, B12, potassium, amino acids, and more. But the biggest plus of incorporating Greek yogurt in your diet is that it can seamlessly take the place of many dessert foods. If you’re throwing out the sugar-packed puddings, ice cream, flavored yogurt, and whipped cream, have no fear–with a little bit of fruit or a few dashes of cinnamon, Greek yogurt can satisfy that tenacious dessert craving in a healthy way.

Veggie Burgers

Since you probably have most of the snacky foods covered by now, it never hurts to add in a quick, easy, and healthy entree to satisfy hungry bellies. This low fat, low calorie, fibrous, and usually preservative-free meal will satisfy the craving for something a little heartier.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Ingredients:

Directions:~ lay bacon strips on pan~ make a large slit in marinated chicken breasts~ scoop a good amount of pesto into the chicken~ lay chicken on bacon and wrap bacon all around chicken~ bake at 350 until chicken is completely cooked.

Quinoa with Onion and Peppers Ingredients:

~ follow directions for making quinoa ~ add butter, olive oil, sesame oil, and seasoning to the water ~ after adding quinoa to the boiling water, throw in fresh onion and frozen sliced peppers
~ after initial boil, reduce heat to simmer and keep stirring
~ add more butter or sesame seed oil if you prefer

Sorry no picture of Anthony eating the dinner, but he LOVED the chicken and quinoa.

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

1. puree green beans and cut up leftover chicken
2. place chicken, green beans, seasoning, and honey mustard dressing into small cast iron skillet
3. heat up slowly, as to mix all together
4. In a large cast iron skillet, put one wrap down, sprinkle cheese on top, then add layer of chicken mix, sprinkle on more cheese, then place another wrap on top.
4. After a few minutes, turn wrap over, then remove after a few minutes
5. Repeat with as many wraps as you likeAJ LOVED it…not only are quesadillas a big hit, but the added flavor of the honey mustard was perfection.

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

1. mix ground turkey and meatloaf with egg, seasoning of choice, and breadcrumbs
2. form meat into two or three loafs and place on oiled cast iron skillet, bake at
3. in a blender mix dressing with garlic, leeks, and chives with water, then set aside
3. bake at 350 degrees for about thirty minutes or until cooked, remove when halfway cooked and pour over dressing mix and continue cooking.

Veggies Directions:

1. cut potatoes and mix with cauliflower
2. marinate with olive oil, butter, seasoning of choice
3. broil for ten minutes, then try to turn over as much of the veggies as you can
4. broil for another ten minutes

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.

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Yes, buying organic/NON-GMO is expensive. Until there is a big change in food production and what consumers buy, healthy choices will always be more expensive. If you want to start small with organic…here are some great tips.